Music-box



No. 624,955. Patented May I6, |899. L. D. MARKLE.

MUSIC BOX.

(Application filed Apr. 9, 1898.)

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Patented May I6, |899.

L. D. MARKLE.

MUSIC BOX.

(Application filed Apr. 9, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

LEVI D. MARKLE, OF NORVICH, NEW YORK.

MUSIC-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part o'f Letters Patent No. 624,955, dated May 16,1899.

Application filed .April 9, 1898. lSerial No. 677,019. (No model.)` i

To [LM whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LEVI D. MARKLE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Norwich,

' in the county of Chenango and State of New York, have invented a newand useful Music- Box, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to musical instruments, and particularly tomusic-boxes, and has for its object to provide improved soundmultiplying and distributing devices adapted especially for use inconnection with musicboxes, whereby with an operating ortoneproducingmechanism of small size a volume of sound having extensive carryingqualities may be obtained, and, furthermore, to provide a simplified andimproved construction of cithern attachment for use in connection withplural-comb sound-producing devices.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear in thefollowing description, and the novel features thereof will beparticularly point-ed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a music-boxconstructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view ofthe same with the sound-boxes and sound-producing mechanism omitted toshow the construction and arrangement of the sounding plates andsympathetic strings. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section. Fig. 4: is atransverse section. Fig. 5 is an enlarged partial longitudinal sectionon the plane indicated bythe line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 isadetailtransverse section of the sound-producing mechanism to show thearrangement of the cithern attachment with relation thereto. Fig. 7 is adetail view in perspective of the cithern attachment applied inoperative position to the comb by which it is affected.

Similar numerals of reference indicate correspondingparts in all thefigures of the drawings.

In a casing 1, having side and end walls and a suitable cover 2, isarranged a horizontal wooden sounding-board 3 coextensive with theinterior of the casing, with the exception that the diagonally oppositecorners thereof are cnt away to form triangular openings 3a (shown inFig. 2) to allow circulation of air through the interior of the casingand at the same time allow a more complete communiof said strips areremoved from a supporting' surface or base. Also supported in a horizontal position in the casing, parallel with and above the plane of thesounding-board 3, is a metallic sounding-plate 5, which may be suitablyscrolled, as indicated in Fig. 2, or provided with openings 6, which areapproximately of an area equal to the combined areas ofthe openings 3`inthe sounding-board and for an analogous purpose-namely, to allow acirculation of air through the interior of the casing. Thissounding-plate, which is also approximately coextensive with theinterior of the casing, is supported at its edges by strips 7, to whichit is permanently secured by means of screws or analogous devices, andstretched in parallel longitudinal positions above the plane of thesounding-plate are sympathetic strings 8tunedin unison and terminallyattached to securing-pegs 9 at one end of the casing and tuning or wrestpins 10 at the opposite end of the casing, whereby the unison-pitch'ofthe strings may be preserved. These sympathetic strings extend overterminal bridges 11,located,respectively, contiguous to the pegs andpins, and also over an intermediate bridge 12, supported by thesounding-plate, said intermediate bridge being provided with notches orseats 13, of which the iioors are ridged, as shown at 14, to formreduced bearings for the strings 8. The sounding-board 3 and plate 5 arespaced apart under the intermediate bridge 12 by means of aspacing-block 15, and extending diagonally under the sounding-board 3,approximately from one angle of the casing to the diagonally oppositeangle,is a sounding-bar 16, (shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and also in dottedlines in Fig. 2,) and engaged with this sounding-bar at points uponopposite sides of the plane of the intermediate bridge 12 aretension-bolts 17, which extend vertically downward from the base-plateor securing-plate 18 of the sound-producingapparatus 19, said base-plateresting upon suitable transverse supports 2O in the casing above theplane of the sympathetic or sounding strings 8 and also having a bearingupon a sounding-post 21,which in turn is seated upon the upper surfaceof the intermediate bridge 12. Thus the vibrations of the base-plate 18of the sound-producing apparatus are communicated through the sound-postdirectly to the intermediate bridge which supports the sympathetic 'orsounding strings and also through said bridge to the sounding-plate 5,and from thence through the spacing-block 15, which performs thefunction of an auxiliary sounding post or block, to the soundingboard 3,and by increasing the tension of the bolts 17 the several vibratorysounding devices, including the board 3, plate 5, and strings S, maybestrained upwardly at intermediate points to increase their tension, andthus the rapidity of the vibrations thereof and correspondingly theintensity of the sound-increasing qualities thereof,by making saidsounding devices more sensitive to the sound- Waves originating in thesound-producing apparatus.

In practice the sympathetic or sounding strings S are tuned in unison toaccord with an intermediate tongue of the combs 22 and 23, which formthe sounding element-s of the apparatus 19, and the object in tuningsaid strings in unison rather than chromatically is to obtain theresonance of the strings in connection with the sounding-plate andsounding-board without causing the sounding or singing of the strings inany special distinctive tone. By thus tuning the strings in unison I canutilize the sound-augmenting qualities thereof to increase the amplitudeof vibration of the sound-waves without causing a confusion of soundsand without necessitat- A ing the use of a damper or other means inconnection therewith for checking the vibration when it becomespronounced. A further advantage of the unison tuning of the strings isto produce au even tension thereof, and thus apply a uniform pressure toall portions of the bric ge to produce an even tension throughout thesounding-plate and soundingboard. This avoids the warping or unequalstraining of the parts of the structure.

In addition to the above-described means for increasing the volume oftone produced by the sounding-tongues, and preferably located in aseries above the plane of said sounding devices, I employresonance-boxes 24, constructed of sheet metal, galvanized iron beingthe material which I have found by experiment to be that which is lbestsuited to the purpose. These boxes have a reverberatory function and arefitted at their upper sides with wooden diaphragms 25, which arepreferably scrolled to allow communication and circulation of air, thelower corners or angles of the boxes being preferably cut away, aslshown at 26, for communication with the interior of the casing.Located, as above indicated, above the plane of the sounding board andstrings and approximately in the plane of the sound-producing apparatusand supported by the same means namely, the brackets or cross-bars 20and the soundingpost 21-these resonance-boxes add vastly to the volumeof the tone produced by the structure and impart a solidity to the tone,which enables the combs of a small sound-producing device 19 to be hearddistinctly for great distances and throughout a large building from thefact that the quantity of air which is affected by the vibrations of theVarious parts is extensive. It will be noted thatl the resonance-boxesare connected with the casing and the supports therein solely by meansof the diaphragms 25, the metallic body portions of the boxes beingiianged at their upper edges and secured to the under surfaces of lsaiddiaphragms, whereby the boxes are practically supported in a pendentposition within the interior of the casing and spaced from the plane ofthe stretched or vibratory sounding devices, consisting of theabove-described board 3, plate 5, and strings 8.

:The sound-producing apparatus 19, as hereinbefore described, preferablyincludes a plurality of combs 22 and 23, having unisontongues adapted tobe sounded simultaneous'ty by means of the spur-wheels Y27, as in theordinary practice, said spur-wheels being actuated by the disk 28, withwhich is engaged a feed-wheel 29,which may be actuated by any suitablemeans, but forming no part of my present invention. In connection withone of the combs, however, and preferably the lower comb 22, is arrangeda cithern attachment, including a spring-armed supportingplate 30,having a semitubular seat 31, of which the open side is turneddownwardly or toward the plane of the tongues of the comb 22, and atransversely-compressible elastic contact-tube 32, fitted in saidsemitubular seat 31 and projecting through the lower open side of theseat for contact with said tongues. The function of this contact-tubeis, when desired, to bear with greater or less pressure upon the tonguesof the comb 22 at an intermediate point, and thereby shorten and sharpenthe vibrations of the tongues in order to produce a cithern or guitarlike effect. It is desirable, however, not only to shorten thevibrations of one set of tongues, in order to give them a twang, but toaccomplish said object without detracting materially from the resonancethereof, and in order that this may be accomplished I have found itnecessary to employ a special construction of contact-tube havingsufficient compressibility to allow it to spread upon the surfaces'ofthe tongues and yet return promptly to its expanded-.position when thepressure is released, and, furthermore, to allow said compression orspreading of the surface of the tube upon the tongues without exertingan excessive pressure thereof upon the tongues. Therefore the construc-IOO IIO

tion of tube which I prefer embodies a double thickness or plural layers33 and 3i of paper cemented together coextensively and coveredexteriorly by a layer of cloth, fabric, or textile material 35. Thefunction of the exterior layer of textile material is to soften thecontact with the tongues to prevent buzzing. Thus with a construction ofcontact-tube as specified I can by bringing the same intolight contactwith the tongues slightly shorten and sharpen the vibrations, so as toproduce the cithern or guitar effect, and by still `f urther increasingthe pressure I can add to this effect gradually, and, finally, when themaximum pressure is applied I can so deaden or damp the vibrations as topractically silence thel tongues of the lower comb. Obviously thegreater the pressure which is applied bythe contact-tube to the tonguesthe greater will be the area of the tongues which is affected by thetube, owing to the spreading of the surface of the tube upon thetongues, and hence any intermediate effect between that of'a slightshortening of the vibrations to the complete deadening thereof can beattained.

The means illustrated in the drawings for operating the contact-tubeincludes a cam-rod or spindle 36, mounted in suitable bearings 37 and 38and having cut-away or cam faces 39 for contact with theA arms of theplate 30, one or both of said bearings having sufficient frictionalcontact with the surface of the spindle to hold it at any desiredrevoluble adjustment. The spindle is preferably provided with a terminalhandle 40.

A further advantage ofthe vibratory sounding devices is derived from thefact that the sounding-plate is trussed by means of the sounding-stringsin that the strings rise from their points of attachment to the .casingto their point of bearing upon the intermediate bridge l2, and hencestrain downwardly upon said intermediate bridge, and this downwardpressure is obviously communicated through the spacing-block l5 to theintermediate or unsupported portion of the sounding-board.

Thus when the tension of the sounding-board and sounding-plate isincreased by the tightening of the tension-bolts 17, which tend to raisesaid board and plate slightly at their centers, the tension of thesounding-strings is correspondingly increased.

It is obvious that in practice various changes in the forni, proportion,and the minor details of construction may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of thisinvention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. A music-box casinghaving a soundingboard, sound-producing mechanism spaced from the planeof the sounding-board, sympathetic or sounding strings arranged b etweenthe sound-producing mechanism and the plane of the sounding-board andterminally attached to fixed portions of the casingy i beyond the edgesof the sounding-board, and

a bridge supported by the sounding-board at an intermediate point andspanned by said strings which decline toward the plane of thesounding-board as they recede from t-he plane of the bridge to exertupon the soundingboard a perpendicular pressure in a direction outwardor from the sound-producing mechanism, substantially as specified.

2. A music-box casing having a terminallysupported sounding-boardforming one wall of the casing, sound-producing mechanism spaced fromthe plane of the sounding-board,

a bridge spanning the sounding-board at an intermediate point, andsounding 4or sympathetic strings arranged within the casing, betweensaid sound-producing mechanism and the sounding-board, terminallyattached to fixed portions of the casing beyond the edges of thesounding-board, and spanning said bridge to exert an outward pressureupon the bridge in a direction perpendicular to the plane of thesounding-board, and all of said strings being tuned in unison to exert auniform pressure upon the bridge at all points of contact therewith,substantially as specified.

3. A music-box casing having a trussed sounding-board includingadjustable sounding or sympathetic strings and a bridge bearing upon thesounding-board at an intermediate point and spanned by saidstrings,whereby the strin gs exert upon the sounding-board a pressure ina direction perpendicular tothe.

plane thereof, and a sounding-post terminally seated upon said bridgeand bearing thereon in the same direction as the said soundingstrings,substantially as specified.

4. A music-box casing having a soundingdiaphragm, truss-strings spanningthe diaphragm and exerting pressure in one direction upon anintermediate portion thereof, and a tensile-adj ustin g deviceconnecting said diaphragm with a fixed object and straining thediaphragm in a direction opposite to said truss-strings, substantiallyas specified.

5. A music-box casing having a soundingdiaphragm carrying a bridge,truss-strings spanning the diaphragm and bearing upon said bridge toexert pressure upon the diaphragm in one direction perpendicular to itsICO IIO

plane, a sounding-post stepped upon the phragms in a'common directionperpendicu-v lar to their plan es, to vary the tension thereof,substantially as speciiied.

'7. A music-box casing having spaced parallel sounding-diaphragmsconnected at an intermediate point by an interposed soundingblock, and atension device for straining said IZO diaphragms in a common directionperpendicular to their planes, to increase the tension thereof,substantially as specified.

8. A music box casing having parallel spaced sounding-diaphragms,supported at their edges and connected at intermediate points by aninterposed sounding-block, a sounding-bar spa-nning the exterior surfaceof one of the diaphragms, and a tension device connected with thesounding-bar for simultaneously straining-the diaphragms in a directionperpendicular to their plan es, to increase the tension thereof,substantiallylas specified.

9. In a music-box, the combination With a casing and a sound-producingapparatus arranged therein, of parallel spaced sounding-diaphragmsconnected at an intermediate point by an interposed sounding-block, anda tension-bolt connecting the base of the sound-producing apparatus Withintermediate points of said diaphragms, for straining the latter in adirection'perpendicular to the planes thereof, to increase theirtension, substantially as specified.

10. In a music-box, the combination With a casing, and a sound-producingapparatus arranged therein and having a metallic base, of parallelspaced sounding diaphragms disposed parallel With said base andconnected atintermediate points by aninterposed sounding-block, and atension-bolt connecting the base of the sounding apparatus with saiddiaphragms at a point contiguous to the sounding-block, for strainingthe diaphragms in a direction perpendicular to the planes thereof, toincrease their tension, substantially as specified.

11. In a music-box, the combination With a casing and a sound-producingapparatus arranged therein, of parallel spaced soundingdiaphragms,connected for simultaneous vibration, adjustable trussing devicesspanning one of the diaphragms, and a tension-bolt connecting the baseof the sounding apparatus With the sounding-diaphragms, for strainingthe latter in opposition to the pressure of the trnssing devices,substantially as specified.

12. In a music-box, the combination with a casing and an inclosedsound-producing apparatus, of parallel spaced sounding diaphragmsconnected at intermediate points for simultaneous vibration, sounding orsympathetic strings spanning one of the diaphragms and having a bearingupon a bridge at an intermediate point of said diaphragm, andconnections between the sound-producing apparatus and said diaphragms,including a tension-bolt for straining the diaphragms in a directionperpendicular to their planes, and in opposition to the pressure of saidstrings, substantially as specified.

13. In a music-box, the combination with a casing and an inclosedsound-producing apparatus, of parallel spaced diaphragms, connected atintermediate points for simultaneous vibration, a bridge spanning theupper diaphragm, sounding or sympathetic strings' spanning one of thediaphragms and bearing upon said bridge, and a sounding-post extendingfrom the sound-producing apparatus to and seated upon said bridge,substantially as specified.

14. In a music-box, the combination With a casing and an inclosedsound-producing apparatus, of parallel spaced diaphragms connected at anintermediate point for simultaneous vibration, a bridge spanningtheupper diaphragm, sounding or sympathetic strings spanning said upperdiaphragm and seated at intermediate 4points upon said bridge, asounding-post extending from the sound-producing apparatus to and seatedupon said bridge, and tension devices including a bolt extending fromthe sound-producing apparatus and connected with the lowermost diaphragmfor straining the diaphragms in a direction perpendicular to. theirplanes, substantially as specified.

15. In a music-box, the combination With a casing and an inclosedsound-producing apparatus, of parallel spaced sounding diaphragms, oneof Which is provided With a bridge upon which is seated a sounding-postextending from the sound-producing apparatus, and sounding orsympathetic strings spanning one of the diaphragms and seated upon saidbridge, substantially as speciiied.

16. A music-box having a casing of Which one wall supports asound-producing device, and of which the other Wall consists of avibratory diaphragm, tensile connections between said Walls, and trussedsounding or sympathetic strings spanning said diaphragm to exert outwardpressure thereon, substantially as specified.

17. A music-box casing having diaphragmatic sounding devices, andresonance-boxes spaced from the plane thereof and communicatingwith thespace between the diaphragmatic sounding devices and the resonanceboxes,substantially as specified.

18. A music-box casing having one wall consisting of asounding-diaphragm, and sheetmetal resonance-boxes arranged within thecasing and supported by one Wall thereof out of contact With saiddiaphragm, and communicating With the space between said diaphragm andthe opposite Wall of the casing, substantially as specified.

19. A music-box casin g having a soundingdiaphragm forming one Wallthereof, and sheet-metal resonance-boxes arranged Within the casing atan interval from, and out of contact With, said diaphragm, and havingcommunication with the outside air and with the space between saiddiaphragm and the opposite Wall of the casing, substantially asspecified.

20. A music-box casing having one Wall consisting of a vibratorydiaphragm, and resonance-boxes having communication with the interior ofthe casing and with the outside air, substantially as specified.

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2l. A music-box casing having one of its walls formed by a vibratorydiaphragm, and stationary resonance-boxes spaced 4from the plane otsaiddiaphragm, arranged within the casing, and having communication byopposite openings with the interior of the casing and with the outsideair, substantially as specified.

22. A music-box casing having its bottom closed by diaphragmaticsounding devices provided with openings, and resonance-boxes suspendedWithin the casin g, and having their inner and outerwalls provided withopenin gs, substantially as specified.

23. In a music-box, the combination with a Casin g and a sound-producingapparatus seated therein, of a plurality of resonance-boxes suspendedWithin the casing approximately in the plane of said sound-producingapparatus, and supported by means in common with said apparatus, anddiaphragmatic sounding devices iitted in and coextensive with the bottomof the casing, substantially as specified.

24. In a music-box, the combination with a casing provided withtransverse supporting bars or bracketsJ and a sound-producing apparatushaving a base-plate seated upon said supporting bars or brackets, ofresonanceboxes suspended Within the casing approximately in the plane ofthe sound-producing apparatus, and supported at their inner sides by thesaid supporting bars or brackets and the base-plate of thesound-producing apparatus, diaphragmatic sounding devices fitted in andapproximately coextensive with the bot tom of the casing, soundingorsympathetic strings spanning said diaphragmatic sounding devices andseated at intermediate points upon the bridge, and a sounding-postinterposed between said bridge and the base of the sound-producingapparatus, substantially as speciii'ed.

25. The combination With a plurality of sounding-combs havingunison-tongues, and means for simultaneously sounding the unison-tonguesof said combs, of a cithern attachment having a semitubular seat mountedfor movement toward and from the plane of the tongues of one comb, andequal in length with the comb, means for moving said seat, and acomprcssible contact-tube fitted in said-seat and comprising a pluralityof layers of paper, and an exterior covering-layer of textile fabric,substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

L. D. MARKLE.

Witnesses:

'JOHN I-I. SIGGERs,

HAROLD H. SIMMs.

